Premises Assistant

The Role

You will have experience working in a school or maintenance environment, with a strong capability for high-quality DIY tasks. You will also be solution-focused, proactive, and take great pride in the appearance of the school site. In this hands-on role, you’ll play a crucial part in ensuring that our school is a welcoming, secure, and pristine environment for students, staff, and visitors. Collaborating closely with the Facilities Manager and premises team, you will undertake a variety of responsibilities that ensure the smooth operation of our Academy. Your tasks will include site maintenance, repairs, decorating, caretaking, gardening, security, waste management, and minibus driving, as well as supporting our sister school, Ark EvelynGrace Academy.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure school buildings and grounds are secure and safe at all times.
• Escort visitors and contractors from the car park to reception, as required.
• Carry out premises daily and weekly routines consistently.
• Respond and complete all tasks requested through the helpdesk system promptly.
• Carry out repairs and maintenance tasks, as required.
• Maintain a litter-free environment, ensuring that the site is always kept clean and presentable at all times.
• Undertake emergency cleaning, graffiti removal and any other ad-hoc cleaning, including toilet and window cleaning.
• Operate the Building Management Systems (BMS), CCTV system, heating, ventilation, lighting, water supply, drainage, and sanitation systems.
• Ensure that appropriate premises related signs and notices are displayed at all times e.g. fire exits.
• Assist with fire and other evacuation procedures and always ensure all fire exits are accessible and that fire extinguishers are correctly positioned.
• Maintain paths and roads to be free of slip hazards, removing snow and treating ice, when required.
• Notify the appropriate agencies where there is a pest or vermin problem.

Qualification Criteria

• Right to work in the UK.
• Basic training in one or more of the following: plumbing, general and grounds maintenance, electrical/building maintenance, heating systems.
• Ability to work on own and as part of a team.
• Approachable, adaptable, flexible, and calm with a ‘can-do’ attitude.
• Solution focused, hard working, conscientious and detail orientated.
• Organised, and able to work with minimum supervision.
• Demonstrates resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up standards of work and achieving excellence.
• Keen to learn and develop own skills.
• Able to drive and willingness to take a MIDAS test.
• Practical understanding of health & safety and security procedures and practices.
• Basic computer skills e.g. e-mail, MS Word, Internet.
• Skills in plumbing, electrical work, carpentry/joinery, painting.
• Able to manage several projects at once, prioritising accordingly to meet deadlines.

What the school offers its staff Benefits

• Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale.
• Twice as many training days as standard.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers.
• Interest‑free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
• Gym discounts – offering up to 40%.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.

Commitment to safeguarding

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.